also: うわじき
A mat or rug placed on top of tatami, flooring, or another surface; often refers to a bordered mat or a small carpet.
座卓の下に上敷きを敷いた。
I put a rug under the low table.
saddlecloth; harness
Archaic term for a cloth placed under a saddle or for horse harness; not used in modern everyday language.
古文書には、馬に上敷きをかける記述がある。
In old documents, there is a description of putting a saddlecloth on a horse.
This mat has reinforced edges and is durable.
Standard kanji spelling for a mat or rug placed on top of something.
Alternate reading; うわしき is more common.
Abbreviated spelling; less common but still seen.
Alternate reading with abbreviated spelling; rarely used.
Compound of 上 (うわ, 'upper') + 敷き (しき, 'spreading'), literally 'spreading on top'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period for mats and saddlecloths.